Home
Aaron Collins gave a glimpse of what he will offer Bolton Wanderers in the future with a well-taken goal against Cambridge United but Ian Evatt says his striker still needs to be given time to settle.
The former Bristol Rovers man grabbed the second goal of the day at the Toughsheet Stadium to open his account for his new club.
Several games ago he had capped his debut against Barnsley with a brilliant assist for Zac Ashworth but Collins had not since managed to hit the same heights.
Evatt has asked for fans to be patient with his new signing, admitting last week that the club may not see the best of him until next season.
But the Whites boss is happy with the progress Collins has made, and thought his performance against Cambridge gave an indication of what he can offer the team here and now.
“To come to a massive football club with a large price tag for the level and a huge weight of expectation is sometimes a difficult thing to do,” Evatt told The Bolton News.
“He has moved away from home, living in and out of hotels is sometimes tough and he needs time to settle down. I thought second half in particular we saw more of the Aaron Collins we’ll see in the future, his link-up play, his ability to beat players, that finish, he has real quality.
“He can play alongside anyone and can change roles as well, and that is key. He can be that connector and builder to offer assists but also his movement is intelligent enough to get him in behind as well. He can do it all.
“We haven’t seen the best of him yet but, as I say, it is a challenging thing to come to such a huge club in the middle of January which play a completely different way to Bristol.
“At his last club he was clearly the main man, given the ball in all scenarios and positions, and then told ‘just go and create something for us.’ “But here he has to be a little more patient, wait for the opportunities to get the ball in dangerous areas, receive the ball in the Position of Maximum Opportunity. That takes work on the grass and we really haven’t had that opportunity of late.
“Like a lot of the players we have signed, he will see the benefit of a pre-season, so for now he just has to continue his learning and get better.”
George Thomason scored Bolton’s first goal of the day – his fifth of the season – and also picked up his 17th yellow card, which sets a new club record previously owned by the enigmatic El-Hadji Diouf.
Evatt is keen to see all his midfielders chipping in with goals.
“George is adding goals alongside yellow cards,” he smiled. “It is a part of his game which is improving, same with Paris (Maghoma). Kyle Dempsey and Aaron Morley need to add those numbers too and it’s a bit different for Sheens (Josh Sheehan) because it is a different role.
“But the position we get our eights in are key to us, really, and it is great that they are starting to take those chances.”
Source